Growing up in Alabama, football was a religion and we showed our devotion at the altar of the SEC (the Southeastern Conference, not the Securities & Exchange Commission). You might worship in the church on Sunday, but Fridays and Saturdays were reserved for services conducted...

For years, hotels staffed in an orderly, traditional fashion: General Manager, Director of Sales, Front Office Manager. Almost two decades ago, the Revenue Manager burst onto the scene and, as distribution channels expanded and pricing became more complex and transparent, there was an exponential increase...

Yesterday, Glenn Haussman's column in Hotel Interactive, "Why Experts Are Begging You to Raise Rates," added to the rhythmic drumbeat being heard throughout our industry. I wrote an article on the same topic last week, citing research presented by hospitality heavy hitters from around the country. ...

Cathy Enz, I could kiss you! During the Cornell Hospitality Research Summit last month, Cathy, a Cornell professor, delivered results from her seven-year study of the hotel slump in the U.S. She found that hotels that held rate or priced above their comp set had...

In today’s hospitality world of shrinking revenues and, even more troubling, shrinking profits, a consultant may be seen as luxury…nice to have but not a real necessity. With lay-offs, cut-backs, consolidations, and hiring freezes, how can you afford a consultant? It’s easier than you think. ...